Masonry saw



March 28, 1967 B. E. SIMSON MASONRY SAW 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 29,1963 FIG. I.

BRUCE E. SIMPSON INVENTOR March 28, 1967 B. E. SIMSON MASONRY SAW FiledAug. 29, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 a v F BRUCE E. SIMPSON INVENTOR March 28,1967 B. SIMSON 3,311,103

MASONRY SAW Filed Aug. 29, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR BRUCE E.SIMPSON j hw I ORNEY United States Patent Office 3,311,103 Patented Mar.28, 1967 3,311,103 MASGNRY SAW Bruce E. Simpson, Culver City, Calif,assignor to Felker Manufacturing Company, Torrance, Calif a corporafionof California Filed Aug. 29, 1963, Ser. No. 305,458 7 Claims. (Cl.12513) This invention relates to a masonry saw and, more particularly,to apparatus arranged to cut blocks of masonry and the like by use of arotating diamond abrasive saw or wheel.

It is common practice in cement block plants to form the blocks in aconventional form approximately eight inches wide, eight inches high,and sixteen inches long. Such fabricators, however, are required tosupply the blocks to their customers cut in two transversely to takecare of the problems presented by the staggering of the blocks when thebuilding being constructed has window and door openings. It is alsodesirable to be able to cut the block lengthwise into slabs which arehalf as thick as the original block. In the known apparatus for cuttingmasonry blocks, the rotating diamond wheel and the motor for driving itare mounted at opposite ends of an elongated assembly which is pivotallymounted above a table; a foot pedal is provided to cause tipping of theassembly so that the wheel moves downwardly into the block. Furthermore,means is usually provided for adjusting the pivot line of the assemblyin a vertical direction. While this apparatus functions effectively whencutting the blocks transversely of their length, it is difiicult tooperate the apparatus when it is desired to slit the block lengthwise orto make a cut with the block standing on end. With some types ofope-ration, the workman has to reach far back in the table and hebecomes quite tired rather quickly. In another situation, as whencutting a block lengthwise, it is impossible to move the table farenough away from the wheel to make a complete out without reversing theblock to do so. Some of the cuts that are required with the conventionalmethod of positioning the wheel become quite dangerous because of theoperator reaching out over the table or not being able to hold the blockproperly. These and other difficulties experienced with the prior 'artdevices have been obviated in a novel manner by the present invention.

It is, therefore, an outstanding object of the invention to provide amasonry saw which is capable of substantial adjustment in the forwardand backward direction as well as up and down.

Another object of this invent-ion is the provision of a masonry sawwhich is capable of equally effectively cutting a masonry blocktransversely, lengthwise, or when standing on end.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a masonrysaw which is capable of front-to back adjustment as well as up-and-downadjustment of the cutting wheel, wherein the adjustment is infinitelyvariable and is accomplished by means of a single handle located on thefront part of the machine.

It is another object of the instant invention to provide a masonry sawin which an elongated pivoted assembly is provided with a rotating sawor wheel at one end and a driving motor at the other end and in whichthe assembly is substantially level in its normal raised position at allpositions of adjustment.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a masonry saw whichmay be operated to accomplish a variety of cuts on a masonry blockwithout endangering the operator.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of a masonrysaw which is simple and rugged in construction, which is capable of along life of useful service with a minimum of maintenance, and in whichvarious adjustments may be made without the use of a complicated anddelicate mechanism.

With these and other objects in view, as will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art, the invention resides in the combination of partsset forth in the specification and covered by the claims appendedhereto.

The character of the invention, however, may be best understood byreference to one of its structural forms as illustrated by theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a masonry saw embodying the principlesof the present invention,

FIG. 2 is a side perspective view of the saw,

FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of the saw,

FIGS. 4, 5, and 6 are side views of the saw in different positions ofadjustment,

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary rear elevation viewed along line VIIVII of FIG.5, and

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a portion of the invention taken on theline VlII-VIII of FIG. 7.

Referring first to FIG. 1, wherein are best shown the general featuresof the invention, the masonry saw, indicated generally by the referencenumeral 10, is shown as consisting of a saw assembly 11 and a supportingframe 12 carrying a table 13.

The supporting frame is provided with two parallel ground contactingbars 14 and 15 from the forward ends of which extend inwardly-inclinedlegs 16 and 17 which are attached at their upper ends to the bottom of arectangular horizontal frame 18 on top of which is mounted a rectangularpan 19.

At their rear ends the bars 14 and 15 are provided with slightlyinwardly-inclined rear legs 21 and 22, respectively, which rise oneither side of the pan 19 and are provided with a cross bar 23 in theform of a channel beam which extends between them in their intermediateposition and on which the frame 18 rests. The legs 21 and 22 extendabove the pan 19 a considerable distance, as will be explained morefully hereinafter. The tray 19 is provided on either long side withtracks 24 and 25, while the table 13 is provided with wheels which rideon these tracks so that the table may be moved back and forth across thetray from front to rear. An X-shaped brace 26 extends between the fourlegs 16, 17, 21, and 22 to form with the bars 14 and 15 and therectangular frame 18 a solid structure.

Mounted at the top of the leg 21 is a bellcrank 27, while a similarbellcrank 28 is mounted at the top of the leg 22 (see FIG. 2). Thebellcrank 27 is provided with a long leg 29 and a short leg 31, whilethe bellcrank 28 is similarly provided with a long leg 32 and a shortleg 30. In both cases, the bellcrank is pivoted at the top of itsrespective supporting leg at the junction of the long and the short legand the long and short legreside at an angle of approximately to oneanother, as is best evident in FIG. 2. As is apparent in FIG. 1, thebellcrank is provided with a supplemental bifurcation 33 so that thebellcrank and the bifurcation embrace a horizontal bearing ofconsiderable transverse dimension which is mounted at the top of the leg21. The bellcrank 28 is similarly constructed to give a substantialbearing area at the tops of the supporting legs. A brace bar 34 extendsfrom the intermediate portion of the long leg 29 to the intermediateportion of the long leg 32 so that the two bellcranks are joinedtogether and operate in unison, the axis being along the same horizontaltransverse line. At the extreme ends of the long legs 29 and 32 they arejoined by a pivot rod 35, and on this rod is pivotally attached anelongated wheel assembly table 36, the pivotal action taking place inthe intermediate portion of the table 36. The part of the table 36rearwardly of the pivot rod is provided with a motor table 37 on whichis mounted an electric motor 38. As is best evident in PEG. 3, the motortable 36 is pivoted by pivot pins 41; for motion about a horizontal axisrelative to the wheel assembly table 36. A screw adjustment 39determines the amount of inclination of the table, the weight of themotor being rearward of the pivot pin 4%, so that by use of the screwadjustment, it is possible to regulate the belt tension.

The forward end of the wheel assembly table 35 is provided with atransverse bearing 41 in which is mounted a spindle 42 which, in turn,carries on one end a diamond saw 43. The spindle 42 extends from theother side of the bearing 41 and carries a pulley which is connected tothe pulley of the motor 38 by a flexible belt (not shown). A sheet metalbelt guard 44 covers the pulleys and belt, while a conventional wheelguard 45 covers the upper portion of the wheel 43.

Attached to the rear end of the wheel assembly table 36 is an actuatingrod 4e. At its lower end it is attached to a foot pedal assembly 47which underlies the X-shaped brace 26 and which has in its forwardportion between the legs 16 and 17 a tread 48. The foot pedal assembly47 is pivoted for movement about a transverse horizontal axis in itsintermediate portion by means of a bolt 49. Embracing and supporting thefoot pedal assembly is a pedal elevating frame 51. The frame is providedwith two side members 52 and 53 which extend along either side of thefoot pedal assembly 47, the bolt 4? extending between the two sidemembers 52 and 53 to provide for pivoting of the assembly 47. At itsforward end, the side member 52 is pivotally attached by means of apivot pin 54 to a lug 55 which extends rearwardly from the leg 17.Similarly, the forward end of the side member 53 is pivoted by a pivotpin 56 to a lug 57 which extends rearwardly from the leg 16. At theirother ends, the side members 52 and 53 are joined by a vertical yoke 58.Forwardly of the bolt 49 and the pivotal connection with the assembly47, the side members 52 and 53 are also joined by a yoke 59 whichbridges the two side members; to the center of this yoke is connected acoil spring 61 which extends downwardly and is connected to the footpedal assembly 47, thus maintaining the tread 48 biased in the upwarddirection at all times. It should also be noted that a plate 62 extendsfrom the side member 52 to the side member 53 on the bottom edge thereofat the rearward end.

At the front of the frame and extending downwardly from the rectangularhorizontal frame It; is a supporting strap 63 in the lower end of whichis rotatably carried an actuating shaft 64 provided on the front endwith a crank 65. The shaft 64 underlies the frame 18 and at the rear endenters a gear box 66 which, in turn, is carried on the intermediateportion of the cross bar 23.

Referring to FIG. 7, within the gear box the shaft 64 is provided with ahorizontal worm 67 which engages a worm pinion 68.- The worm pinion iskeyed to a horizontal transverse shaft 69 which, in turn, is carried inbrackets 71 and 82 extending rearwardly and downwardly from the rearsurface of the cross bar 23. Keyed to the ends of the shaft 69 (adjacentthe legs 21 and 22) are crank arms 72R and 72L to which are pivotallyattached actuating rods 73 and 74, respectively. The upper end of therod 73 is pivotally attached to the outer end of the short leg 31 of thebellcrank 27, while the upper end of the rod 74 is pivotally attached tothe outer end of the short leg 30 of the bellcrank 32. Also keyed to theintermediate portion of the transverse shaft 65 is a crank arm 75 and tothe outer end of this is pivotally attached the upper end of the yoke58. A coil spring 76 is at tached at one end to the crank arm 75 througha link 77 and at the other end to the X-shaped brace 26 through anupstanding finger 7 3 attached thereto to counterbalance the weight ofthe wheel assembly, so that, when the wheel is being raised to a higherposition by rotating the crank 65, it can be accomplished with lesseffort.

An electric cord and plug assembly 79 extends rearwardly from the motor38 for connection to a source of electric power. A canvas apron 81 issupported at the upper edge by the brace bar 34 and hangs downwardlywith its lower end in the pan The operation of the invention will now bereadily understood in view of the above description. By connecting thecord and plug assembly 79 to a source of electrical power, the motor 3?will be actuated thus rotating the diamond wheel 43. The masonry blockto be cut is placed on the upper surface of the table 13 and the tableis moved rearwardly toward the wheel 43, the supporting wheels of thetable riding along the rails 24 and 25 at the upper side edges of thepan 19. As the table 13 and the block are moved toward the wheel d3 theoperator presses the tread 48 downwardly with his foot, thus pivotingthe foot pedal assembly 47 about the pivot representedby the bolt 39.This means that the rear end of the assembly moves upwardly carrying theactuating rod upwardly with it. The actuating rod pushes on the rear endof the wheel assembly table 36 so that it rotates or pivots about thepivot rod 35. This causes the forward end of the table 36 to movedownwardly, carrying the wheel 43 downwardly also, so that it contactsthe block and makes the cut. Assuming that the bellcrank Z7 is in theposition shown in FIG. 4, the pivotal axis of the table 36 will be in aforward low position relative to the upper end of the leg 21. This meansthat the wheel 43 will be in a normally low position and it will be wellforward of the pan 19. In this position, it is very well situated forcutting an elongated masonry block in the transverse direction. Theoperator does not have to reach very far rearwardly to pass the blockthrough the saw and, furthermore, the saw is in a low position where theactuation of the tread 48 will bring it completely in line with the lowheight of the masonry block when such a transverse cut is being made.

If, however, it is desired to place the block on its end, so that itextends upwardly above the table 13 a considerable distance, then it isnecessary to change the machine from the condition shown in FIG. 4 tothe condition shown in FIG. 5 wherein the wheel 43 is raised high and isin a position intermediate of the front and rear of the machine. It isonly necessary to rotate the crank 65, thus rotating the shaft 64. Theshaft dd, in turn, rotates the worm 67 causing a rotation of the wormpinion 63 and of the shaft 69 to which it is keyed. As the shaft 69rotates (in this case, counterclockwise as it is observed in FIG. 8) itcarries the bellcrank 7 2R and 72L with it and moves the lower ends ofthe rods 73 and 7 4 first downwardly and then upwardly. This rotates thebellcranks 27 and 28 in a clockwise direction (as the machine isobserved in FIGS. 4 and 5) which raises the long leg 29 into a verticalposition directly above the end of the leg 21 shown in FIG. 5. In thisposition, the pivot point of the table 36 is sub stantially above thetop end of the legs 21 and 22 so that the wheel in its normal levelposition is very high and is located in a position midway between thefront and rear of the pan 19. It should be also noted that, when thecrank 65 was turned to rotate the shaft 69, it also rotated thebellcrank which had the effect of, in this case, first lowering and thenraising the yoke 58 so that the foot pedal assembly 47 and the actuatingrod .6 were also raised. This assures that the table 36 stay insubstantially a level horizontal position despite the fact that it hasbeen raised a considerable distance. It should be noted that thebellcrank 72R of the actuating rod 73 and the corresponding bellcrank72L of the actuating rod 74 are out of phase (extend at difierenttangles) by about so that the rods will pass the bellcranks through deadcenter without difiiculty. In addition to the out-of-phase arrangementof the cranks 72R and 721., the short arms 30 and 31 of the bellcranks32 and 33 are about 90 out of phase.

Now, let us assume that the operator wishes to place the apparatus inthe condition shown in FIG. 6, which is its best condition for thelengthwise sawing of a mason ry block. He again rotates the crank 65,the shaft 64, the worm 67, the worm pinion 68, and the shaft 69 in thesame direction as before. This will rotate the bellcrank 27 stillfurther until the long leg 29 occupies the rearwarclly-directedcondition shown in FIG. 6, while the short leg extends forwardly. Inthat condition, the pivot point of the table 36 is located substantiallyrearwardly and slightly above the level of the top end of the leg 21. Inthis condition, the wheel 43 is located in a low position very close tothe pan 19 and is located at the rear of the pan, so that the-re isplenty of room to place a masonry block lengthwise on the table and tomove it toward the wheel for making a lengthwise cut. At the same timethat this action of moving the bellcrank 27 takes place, the crank arm75 is moved downwardly and the yoke 58 is simultaneously adjusteddownwardly to compensate for the different height of the rear end of thetable 36. It can be seen, then, that by the use of the presentapparatus, it is possible to cut every type of masonry block from thesmallest to the largest and to cut along any dimension of a given block.The wheel or blade position swings forward, backward, up, or down merelyby use of the front end crank. It is never necessary manually to liftthe head to change blade height. The machine is capable of cutting ablock lengthwise in a single pass; the blade can be set back allowingfull table capacity ahead of the blade before commencing the cut; it isnot necessary to provide additional extension rails for oversizedpieces. Infinite adjustment of the height of the wheel or wheelclearance above the top surface of the masonry block is possible with asingle control in the form of the crank 65. When the blade is in theforward position, there is no reaching or stretching and the operationis much easier with the workpiece close to the operator. With the bladeup, as shown in FIG. 5, the maximum height is obtained from the table tothe center of the wheel spindle to accommodate large workpieces. On theother hand, with the blade in the back position, as shown in FIG. 6,there is more clearance in front of the blade for ripping long pieces.

It is obvious that minor changes may be made in the form andconstruction of the invention without departing from the material spiritthereof. It is not, however, desired to confine the invention to theexact form herein shown and described, but it is desired to include allsuch as properly come within the scope claimed.

The invention having been thus described, what is claimed as new anddesired to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A masonry {saw comprising (a) an elongated saw assembly adapted tocarry an abrasive saw at one end for rotation about a horizontal axisand to carry a drive motor at the other end,

(b) a supporting frame having a horizontal table on which masonry can becarried for movement perpendicular to the saw axis, the frame having andend member extending upwardly above the table at the rear end thereof,

(c) a bellcrank connected at the fulcrum to the end member for pivotalmovement about an axis parallel to and spaced from the saw axis andconnected at one end to the intermediate-portion of the saw assembly forpivotal movement of the assembly about an axis parallel to and spacedfrom the saw axis,

(d) a means for pivoting the saw assembly relative to said bellcrank,and

(e) an adjusting rod attached to the other end of the bell-crank to movesaid one end selective-1y to a position in front of said end member andto a position in the rear of said end member, whereby the saw assem- 6bly is adjusted vertically and horizontally over a wide range relativeto the table.

2;. A masonary saw as recited in claim 1, wherein means is provided atthe front end of the table to change the position of the adjusting rod,the said means serving simultaneously to adjust the operating range ofthe actuating rod, so that the saw assembly remains substantially levelirrespective of the position of adjustment of the crank arm.

3. A masonry saw as recited in claim 2, wherein the said means consistsof a rod rotatably mounted under the table and extending longitudinallythereof, the rod having a crank handle at the forward end and a worm atthe rearward end.

4. A masonry saw as recited in claim 3, wherein a shaft is mounted atthe rear of the supporting frame for rotation about a transverse axis, aworm pinion is keyed to the shaft and engaged by the worm for rotationthereby, and a crank arm is keyed at one end to the shaft and connectedat the other end to the adjusting rod.

5. A masonry saw comprising (a) an elongated saw assembly adapted tocarry an abrasive saw at one end of rotation about a horizontal axis andto carry a drive motor at the other end,

(b) a supporting frame having an elongated horizontal table on whichmasonry can be carried for movement perpendicular to the saw axis, theframe having two parallel spaced end members extending upwardly abovethe table at the rear end thereof,

(0) two crank arms each connected at its fulcrum to the end member forpivotal movement above an axis parallel to and spaced from the saw axisand connected at one end by a pivot shaft to which the intermediateportion of the saw assembly is attached for pivotal movement of theassembly about the shaft axis parallel to and spaced from the saw axis,

((1) an actuating rod connected at one end to the saw assembly at alocation spaced from its pivotal axis,

(e) a foot pedal assembly mounted under the table and extending from thefront to the rear thereof, the front end having a tread and the rear endbeing attached to the actuating rod, and

(f) an adjusting rod attached at the other end of the bellcrank to movesaid one end selectively to a position in front of said end member andto a position in the rear of said end member, whereby the saw assemblyis adjusted vertically and horizontally over a wide range relative tothe table.

6. A masonry saw as recited in claim 5, wherein the foot pedal assemblyis mounted in a pedal assembly frame for pivotal movement about ahorizontal transverse axis intermediate of the front and rear ends, thepedal assembly frame being pivotally attached to the front of thesupporting frame for movement about a horizontal transverse axis.

7. A masonary saw as recited in claim 6, wherein the rear end issuspended from the supporting frame by a vertically-adjustable yoke andmeans is provided operable from the front of the supporting frame foradjusting the said yoke.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 7 2,514,3147/1950 Denton 74-89 2,863,440 12/1958 Harclerode 13.1 3,027,886 4/1962Zuzelo 125-l3.1 3,040,729 6/1962 Ward 125-13.1

HAROLD D. WHITEHEAD, Primary Examiner.

1. A MASONRY SAW COMPRISING (A) AN ELONGATED SAW ASSEMBLY ADAPTED TOCARRY AN ABRASIVE SAW AT END FOR ROTATION ABOUT A HORIZONTAL AXIS AND TOCARRY A DRIVE MOTOR AT THE OTHER END, (B) A SUPPORTING FRAME HAVING AHORIZONTAL TABLE ON WHICH MASONRY CAN BE CARRIED FOR MOVEMENTPERPENDICULAR TO THE SAW AXIS, THE FRAME HAVING AND END MEMBER EXTENDINGUPWARDLY ABOVE THE TABLE AT THE REAR END THEREOF, (C) A BELLCRANKCONNECTED AT THE FULCRUM TO THE END MEMBER FOR PIVOTAL MOVEMENT ABOUT ANAXIS PARALLEL TO AND SPACED FROM THE SAW AXIS AND CONNECTED AT ONE ENDTO THE INTERMEDIATE PORTION OF THE SAW ASSEMBLY FOR PIVOTAL MOVEMENT OFTHE ASSEMBLY ABOUT AN AXIS PARALLEL TO AND SPACED FROM THE SAW AXIS, (D)A MEANS FOR PIVOTING THE SAW ASSEMBLY RELATIVE TO SAID BELLCRANK, AND(E) AN ADJUSTING ROD ATTACHED TO THE OTHER END OF THE BELL-CRANK TO MOVESAID ONE END SELECTIVELY TO A POSITION IN FRONT OF SAID END MEMBER ANDTO A POSITION IN THE REAR OF SAID END MEMBER, WHEREBY THE SAW ASSEMBLYIS ADJUSTED VERTICALLY AND HORIZONTALLY OVER A WIDE RANGE RELATIVE TOTHE TABLE.